RHODE ISLAND SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE ECONOMY 2001

2 September 2002

[SheLion]

RHODE ISLAND SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE ECONOMY 2001  

Rhode Island smokers comprise only 23.5% of the adult population in the state. Here is what they already pay because they choose to buy a legal product:

• Smokers Pay Excise Taxes $ 67,580,560
• Smokers Pay Sales Taxes $ 21,455,280
• Smokers Pay Tobacco Settlement Payments $ 44,500,000

                                                                                              $133,535,840

Smokers’ Economic/Tax Profile

• Income
  • Rhode Island smokers’ median income 2000 $28,154
• Median Income Smoker Rhode Island State Tax Liability
  • Annual state income tax liability for a couple $589
  • Annual state income tax liability for a couple with two children $364

• Smoker Excise Tax/Sales Tax/Tobacco Settlement Payments Liability
  • Total average paid per Rhode Island smoker in excise and sales taxes $473
  • Price per Rhode Island smoker for settlement payments to Rhode Island $236

Total annual payment to Rhode Island per smoker $709

Rhode Island Smoker Facts

• Rhode Island smoker payments in 2001 were more than fourteen times as large as state excise taxes of $9.2 million on alcoholic beverages.
• Rhode Island smoker payments in 2001 were more than 58% larger than total corporate net income tax revenues paid by Rhode Island corporations ($84.3 million).
• In 2001, Rhode Island smoker payments were greater than Rhode Island motor fuels taxes of $118.9 million.
• Rhode Island smoker payments could have paid for FY2001 spending for:

• The Department of Health ($84 million)
• Disease Prevention and Control ($5 million)
• The State Police ($37.7 million)
• Environmental Management ($52.7 million)
• Veterans ($12.4 million)

• In 1997, smokers supported 1,484 jobs that paid an additional $1,824,905 in state and local personal income and corporate taxes.

CIGARETTES DON’T PAY TAXES – RHODE ISLAND SMOKERS DO!!

Rhode Island Data Sources

Total Packs sold = 799,464,000 (Orzechowski & Walker Tax Burden On Tobacco 2001 from Rhode Island Department of Revenue)

Excise Taxes Paid = Orzechowski & Walker Tax Burden On Tobacco 2001 from Rhode Island Department of Revenue packs sold

Sales Taxes Paid= packs sold multiplied by sales tax rate (7% or $.27 per pack)

Settlement payment amount (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids)

Number of smokers (188,215)= Census Bureau 2000 Rhode Island 18+ population (1,046,319) multiplied by CDC’s 2000 percent of adults who are smokers (23.5)

Total paid per smoker excise & sales taxes = total excise and sales taxes paid (89,035,840) divided by number of smokers (188,215)

Total paid per smoker for settlement payments = settlement payments amount divided by number of smokers

Smokers’ median income per CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2000, public use data

State annual income tax liability from PayBreeze software of General Programming, Inc., San Jose, California, which utilizes the Exact Calculation Method

Smoker facts from Rhode Island State Budget Office, FY 2002 Budget as Enacted, p. 17-18, Online at

http://www.budget.state.ri.us/

Jobs created and personal/corporate income tax paid from Economic Impact of Tobacco 1997

[SheLion]

INDIANA SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE ECONOMY - 2001

CALIFORNIA SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE ECONOMY - 2001

MICHIGAN SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE ECONOMY - 2001

ILLINOIS SMOKERS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE ECONOMY - 2001

MASSACHUSETTS SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE ECONOMY-2001

DELAWARE SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE ECOMOMY -2001

NEW YORK CITY SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE ECOMOMY -2001

[SheLion]

BUMP

[muir_redwoods]

So quit!

[Leisler]

bump.

[SheLion]

So Quit

Golly Gee........I DO live in New England, however I live in MAINE! Sorry!

Libertarian leanings

I thought the Libertarians for FOR smoker's rights!

However, if all the smokers quit, then guess what?  The state you live in would be coming after something YOU have to make up for the lost taxes on cigarettes.  What do you say about THAT?

[muir_redwoods]

I say I'd rather have my friends who smoke live to enjoy life. Taxes will always be gathered but it doesn't have to be off the literal life's breath of many of my friends and innocent strangers. And as a libertarian, I am for human rights, not just smokers' rights. The first right is the right to survival. Spend as much time as I have in oncology clinics and you may have a different perspective.

I can introduce you to a dozen or more smokers who would enjoy the right to one untroubled breath, but it's denied to them. And please don't try to tell me smoking doesn't cause cancer, emphysema and other COPD's. Even the tobacco companies know that.

[SheLion]

I'd say I'd rather have my friends who smoke live to enjoy life

We smokers DO live to enjoy life!  Coffee and cigarettes ENHANCE my quality of life, as do most smokers.  Why else would we be scurrying to buy off the internet, the Reservations and rolling our own to avoid the out-of-site taxes?  And why do you think it's any of your business?

My Grandmother smoked three packs of unfiltered Camels a day and lived to be 86!  She died from old age! Why do you think that by just being a smoker a person is going to die a short and horrible death?  Are you under the concept that if people didn't smoke, they would live forever?  I am sorry, but Life Is TERMINAL.

Spend as much time as I have in oncology clinics and you may have a different perspective.

Hey!  I have! TWICE!  Twice I had cancer and went through chemo therapy.  TWICE I had two major surgeries! I had two teams of Doctors BOTH times, and they ask me how much I smoked.   Both teams told me that my cancer was NOT caused by smoking.  How about THAT?

A  lot of people are pre-disposed for the cancer gene.  And a lot of people are not.  Smoke or not, cancer will get you if it's in your body.

I have been smoking for over 35 years.  I go to my Doctor once a year for a check-up and my lungs are clear as a bell. How do you explain that.  I am sorry you have had friends or family that have suffered and/or died from cancer from smoking.  But that is not the case with ALL of us.

[Khepera]

Anti Smokers suck!

[SheLion]

Anti Smokers suck!

They really do! They have NO concept about how much we smokers are paying into the state government just so they can have their rights and continue living the GOOD life.

I am totally fed up!

[Khepera]

I opted out of the federal tax program... I stuff my own.

[Great Dane]

And please don't try to tell me smoking doesn't cause cancer, emphysema and other COPD's. Even the tobacco companies know that.

We never disputed that smoking will cause cancer in some people, do tell where does all the other cancers come from, if you were to go on any cancer related site, you will find list and list of other cancer causing products...... food, water and the air we breathe even outside tops the list, smoking is a very small component of all our ills.

[Great Dane]

Another newbie, signed up on the August 23, I am beginning to think these people are sent by the ANTI groups, they all sing from excactly the same book.

[SheLion]

Another newbie, signed up on the August 23, I am beginning to think these people are sent by the ANTI groups, they all sing from excactly the same book.

SOMETHING is in the wind! They are the most disgusting creatures on God's green earth! Most be people without ANY believe in God or a Supreme Being. I think Satan has a bunch of deciples and they are ALL headed to FR!!!!!!!!

[Dakmar]

You are just stealing money from the state treasury, stealing food from the mouths of hungry children, and stealing money from the hands of parents of hungry children who would rather use their money for something other than feeding their hungry children.

[Khepera]

Dakmar = trolling for fish

[Dakmar]

By fish do you mean folks that have an almost frightening zeal in their antipathy toward tobacco users?

[altair]

Are you going to do all 50 states? The way the numbers are adding up, I'm not sure I can handle finding out what the total amount is across the country.

[Khepera]

Sure, what you said!

[Dakmar]

The Manson Family used tobacco, you know?

[SheLion]

Are you going to do all 50 states? The way the numbers are adding up, I'm not sure I can handle finding out what the total amount is across the country.

YES!!!!! It takes time though, so bare with me. I am STILL waiting for my state of MAINE! I am on pins and needles waiting for Maine and also Virginia.

But bare with me. I will post all as quick as I can!!!